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No.    I 


ON 


ECLECTIC    SCHOOL    ilEAblN.feS     ^'j 


LITTLE    STOEIE8 


FOR 


LITTLE    PEOPLE 


BY 


ANNIE   WILLIS   MoCULLOUGH 


COMJ'UMEAITS 

RKAN  BOOK  C 
'E(5  Battery 

AN    FRANCISCO 


NEW   YORK  .-.  CINCINNATI  .-.  CHICAGO 

AMERICAN     BOOK     COMPANY 


1/15 


COEYBIGHT,  1902,  BY 
ANNIE   WILLIS   McCULLOUGH. 

Entebed  at  Stationebs'  Hall,  London. 
fcDUCAXii^  DEPT. 

LITTLB   STOSIK8. 

W.  P.  I 


PREFACE 


The  vocabulary  used  in  this  first  supplementary 
reading-book  is  mainly  confined  to  that  found  in  five 
leading  First  Readers. 

For  the  most  part,  each  lesson  is  a  complete 
story.  By  story  is  meant  a  dramatic  incident, 
however  slight.  The  children's  interest  is  gener- 
ally better  held  by  a  story  than  by  any  other  form 
of  reading. 

It  is  noticeable  in  some  First  Readers  that  there 
is  seldom  any  sequence  of  stories.  Each  new  lesson 
introduces  a  fresh  set  of  nouns  and  verbs  bearing 
no  relation  to  those  of   the  story  preceding. 

Many  of  these  stories  are  arranged  in  little 
groups,  the  object  being  to  retain  the  child's  inter- 
est in  the  characters,  and  the  repeated  use  of  the 
same,  or  similar,  words,  phrases,  sentences. 


54^^54 


LITTLE  STOHli^S '"  •' ' 


THE    CAT    AND    THE    RAT. 
The  cat  runs. 
The  rat  runs. 
The  cat  will  get  the  rat. 
The  cat  likes  to  get  rats. 


THE   DOG   AND    THE   CAT. 


The  dog  ran 

fast. 
The   cat    ran 

fast. 
The  dog  ran 

for  the  cat. 
The   cat    ran 

up  in  a  tree. 
See  the  dog. 
See  the  cat. 
The  cat  looks 

at  the  dog. 
The  dog  looks 

at  the  cat. 
Can  the  dog  get  the  cat? 
The  dog  can  not  get  the  cat. 


THE   CAT   AND   THE   BIRD. 

Do  you  see  the  cat  ? 

The  cat  sees  a  bird. 

The  bird  is  on  its  nest. 

The  bird  does  not  see  the  cat. 

The  cat  will  try  to  catch  the  bird. 

The  bird  can  fly. 

See !  the  bird  flies  away. 

The  cat  can  not  catch  the  bird. 

The  cat  can  not  fly  like  a  bird. 


THE   BOYS   AND   THE   DOG. 


The  boys  play  with  the  dog. 

The  boys  play  ball. 

The  boys  throw  the  ball. 

The  dog  runs  for  the  ball. 

The  dog  riins  fast.    He  gets  the  ball 

He  brings  the  ball  to  the  boys. 

A  boy  and  a  dog  can  play  ball. 


EOB    AND    MAY. 


Eob  has  a  cow. 
May  has  a  doll. 
Eob  likes  his  cow. 
May  likes  her  doll. 
Eob  plays  with  his  cow. 
May  plays  with  her  doll, 
Eob  and  May  have  fun. 


10 


THE    BARN  AND    THE   HOUSE. 


Eob  has  a  barn. 

He  puts  his  cow  in  the  barn. 

May  has  a  house. 

She  puts  her  doll  in  the  house, 

The  cow  lives  in  the  barn. 

The  doll  lives  in  the  house. 


11 

ROB    AND    MAY   AT    PLAY. 

Eob  put  his  cow  in  the  house. 
He  put  the  doll  in  the  barn. 
He  did  it  for  fun. 
May  did  not  like  to  see    her  doll 

in  the  barn. 
She  took  the  cow  out  of  her  house. 
She  put  it  in  the  barn. 
She  put  her  doll  in  the  house. 
Cows  do  not  live  in  a  house. 
Dolls  do  not  live  in  a  barn. 


The  world's  a  very  happy  place, 

Where  every  child  should  dance  and  sing 

And  always  have  a  smiling  face 
And  never  sulk  for  anything. 


G.    S. 


12 


ROB^S    COW. 

A  COW  can    eat,      A  toy   cow   can 

not  eat. 
Rob  makes  hay  for  his  toy  cow. 
He  cuts  paper  hito  hay. 
He  puts  it  in  the  barn. 
He  says  the  toy  cow  eats  the  hay. 


13 


SPOT. 

Our  baby  has  a  little  clog. 
His  name  is  Spot. 
Spot  likes  the  baby's  doll. 
He  likes  to  shake  the  doll 


He  likes  to  pull  the  doll's  dress. 
He  does  it  for  fun. 
The  baby   does    not    like   to    have 
Spot  act  so. 


14 


PLAYING   WITH   DOLLS. 
Girls  play  with  dolls. 
They  like  to  play  with  dolls. 
Our  baby  likes  to  wash  her  doll's 
face.    She  makes  pies  for  her  doll. 
kShe  makes  them  of  mud. 
They  are  mud  pies. 
Girls  make  mud  pies. 
But  they  can  not  eat  such  pies. 


15 
ROB'S    KITE 

Oh,  see  the  kite  ! 

It  is  Eob's  kite. 

Eob  made  the  kite. 

What  a  big  kite  it  is  ! 

It  looks  little,  but  it    /    is  big 

It  is  away  up  in    /  the  sky. 

What  a  fine  day  /    to  fly  a  kite  ! 

May  likes  to    /    see  Rob's  kite. 

She  likes  to  /     see  it  fly. 


0i 


I  often  sit  and  wish  that  I 
1%  Could  be  a  kite  up  in  the 
sky, 
And  ride  upon  the  breeze, 

and  go 
Whichever  way  it   chanced 
to  blow. 


FRANK    DEMPSTER    SHERMAN. 


16 
THE   COW. 

(To  be  read  to  the  children.) 


The  friendly  cow  all  red  and  white, 

I  love  with  all  my  heart: 
She  gives  me  cream  with  all  her  might, 

To  eat  with  apple-tart. 

She  wanders  lowing  here  and  there. 

And  yet  she  can  not  stray, 
All  in  the  pleasant  open  air, 

The  pleasant  light  of  day; 

And  blown  by  all  the  winds  that  pass, 
And  wet  with  all  the  showers, 

She  walks  among  the  meadow  grass 
And  eats  the  meadow  flowers.      r.  l.  s. 


17 


DICK. 

Dick  is  my  bird.    He  liyes  in  a  cage. 

The  cage  is  his  house. 

I  let  him  out  of  his  cage.  He 
flew  on  my  hand.  I  gave  him 
sugar.     He  gave  me  a  kiss. 


DICK'S   DINNER. 
We  were  eating  dinner. 
Dick  was  out  of  his  cagCc 
He  flew  down  on  the  table. 
I  gave  him  a  piece  of  bread. 


18 

Dick  ate  dinner  with  us. 
Then  he  sang  for  us. 


DICK'S    BATH. 

Dick  did  not  want  to  take  a  bath. 

I  let  him  out  of  his  cage. 

He  flew  to  the  window. 

There  were  flowers  in  the  window. 

There  was  a  dish  of  water  m  the 

window. 
Dick  took   a  bath  in   the    dish    of 

water. 
Every  day  I  put  Dick's  bath   tub 

in  the  window. 
He    likes    to    take    a    bath    there 

among  the  flowers. 


19 


DICK    AND    THE    CAT. 
Dick  was  out  of  his  cage. 
He  was  flying  aromid  the  room. 
He  flew  on  my  hand. 
The  cat  came  in. 
I  thought  she  would  catch  Dick. 
She  jumped  upon  the   table. 
Dick  flew  up  to  the  window. 
The  bad  cat  could  not  catch  him. 
May  took  her  out  of  the  room. 
Then  Dick  flew  back  on  my  hand. 


20 


BIRDS   BATHING. 

Birds  in  the  country 

often  take  baths  in 

brooks  or  ponds. 
One  day  a  little    boy  was    sailing 

his  boat  on  a  pond. 
A  bird  flew  down  to  take  a  bath. 
It  flew  down  on  the  little  boat. 
It  stood  there  for  a  minute. 
Then  it  flew  away. 


21 


THE    BIRD. 

(To  be  memorized.) 

A  bird  in  the  tree 
Is  singing  to  me; 
The  bird  is  as  happy 
As  happy  can  be. 

Now  fly  down  to  me, 

0  bird  in  the  tree ; 
I'll    make    you    as 

happy 
As  happy  can  be. 

No,   thank  you,  said 
he, 

1  like  to  be  free; 
Up  here  I  am  happy 
As  happy  can  be. 

So  let  me  be  free 
To  sing  in  my  tree, 
And  then  I'll  be  happy 
As  happy  can  be. 


22 


FIDO. 
I  am  a  little  dog.     My  name  is  Fido. 
I  live  with  Fred  and  Frank. 
They  loYe    me   dearly,  and  I  love 

them  dearly. 
Where    do    you    think    I    sleep? 
I  sleep  at  the  foot  of  their  bed. 
They  like  to  have  me  sleep  there. 


23 

FIDO    AS    A    WATCH    DOG. 

One  night  I  heard  a  great  noise. 

Oh,  how  I  barked ! 

I  heard  the  people  go  to  see  what 

was  the  matter. 
Pretty  soon  Fred's  papa  came  in. 
He   said,    "  Be  quiet,  Fido.     There 

is  nothing  the  matter." 
It  was  only  the  cat.     Slie  pushed 

over  a  milk-pan  in  the  shed. 
What    a    silly  cat,  to   frighten   us 

so  much ! 


24 

FIDO^S   PRESENT. 

Fred  and  Frank  gave  me  a  pres- 
ent. It  was  a  queer  present. 
It  was  a  little  box. 

The  top  of  the  box  opened  very 
fast.  It  flew  open  and  a  queer 
little  man  jumped  out. 

I  was  afraid,  but  I  barked  at  the 
little  man.  Everybody  laughed, 
for  he  was  not  a  real  man. 

He  was  so  small  that  I  could 
take  his  head  in  my  mouth. 

One  day  I  did  take  it  in  my 
mouth.     I  bit  his  head  off. 

After  that  he  could  not  jinnp 
out  of  his  box  and  frigliten  me. 

They  called  him  Jack-in-the-box, 


25 


l5i!a»;:'!fm 


1Sl 


THE   STARS. 
Do  you  like  to 
look    at    the 
stars?     I  do. 
One    night    I    tried    to    count    the 

stars. 
There    were    too    many    to    count. 

I  could  not  count  them  all. 
No  one  can  count  the  stars. 
But  everyone  can  Ioyc   them,  and 

eyeryone  can  look  at  them. 
They  are  beautiful  to  look  at. 


26 


One  night  a  little  boy  saw  a  star. 

He  saw  it  in  the  water. 
He    said,    "O    mamma,  I    thought 

all  the   stars  were   in  tlie  sky." 
She    told    him   it  was   not    a    real 

star  in  the  water. 
The  real  star  was  in  the  sky. 
It  was    so    briglit   tliat   it   seemed 

to  shine  down  in  the  dark  water. 


27 
BEDTIME    STARS. 

Jamie  saw  the  stars  come   out   in 

the  sky. 
They  came  out  one  by  one.     They 

were  bright  and  new. 
Jamie  said,    "See    all    the    candles 

in  the  sky.     God  is  lighting  his 

candles.     Is    he    lighting*    them 

so  the  angels  can  go  to  bed?" 
"  I  think  he    is    lighting    them  so 

little  boys  can  go  to  bed." 
Then    Jamie's    mother    took    him 

away  to  bed. 

Silently,  one  by  one,  in  the  infinite  meadows 
of  heaven, 

Blossomed  the  lovely  stars,  the  forget-me- 
nots  of  the  angels. 

H.    W.    LONGFELLOW. 


28 
THE   LAND    OF   NOD. 

(To  be  memorized.) 

From  breakfast  on  through  all  the  day 
At  home  among  my  friends  I  stay; 
But  every  night  I  go  abroad 
Afar  into  the  land  of  Nod. 

All  by  myself  I  have  to  go, 

With  none  to  tell  me  what  to  do  — 

All  alone  beside  the  streams 

And  up  the  mountain-sides  of  dreams. 

The  strangest  things  are  there  for  me, 
Both  things  to  eat  and  things  to  see, 
And  many  frightening  sights  abroad 
Till  morning  in  the  land  of  Nod. 

Try  as  I  like  to  find  the  way, 
I  never  can  get  back  by  day. 
Nor  can  remember  j^lain  and  clear 
The  curious  music  that  I  liear. 

ROBERT    LOUIS    STEVENSON. 


29 


MAKING   CALLS. 
Let    us    go    out    and    make    some 

calls,  Helen. 
Whom    shall    we    call    on,   Grace  ? 

Little  girls  do  not  call  on  people. 
We  will  not  call  on  people,  Helen. 
How  can  you  make  calls  without 

calling  on  people? 
Come  with  me  and  see. 
I  will,  Grace.     Let  me  get  my  hat. 


30 

CALLING    ON   MRS.    ROBIN. 

First  we  will  call  on  Mrs.  Eobin. 

See '  what  a  pretty  house  she  has. 

It    looks    so    home-like    up    in   the 

apple  tree  under  the  g:reen  leaves. 


I  will  help  you  to  climb  up.  Can 
you  see  anything  in  her  nest? 

Oh,  yes,  Grace  !    I  see  five  blue  eggs. 

We  will  not  stay  any  longer,  Helen. 
Mrs.  Robin  seems  afraid  of  us. 


31 


CALLING   ON   MRS.    COW. 
Let  us  walk   across   the    field  and 

call  on  Mrs.  Cow. 
How  do  you  do,  Mrs.  Cow? 
You  have  nothing  to   do   but   eat, 

all  day  long. 
But    at    night    you   must   come  to 

the  barn  and  give  us  milk. 


32 


CALLING    ON   LADY   BIRCH. 
Now  let  us  go  and    call   on  Lady 

Birch.      How    pretty  she    is    in 

her  green  and  white  dress  ! 
Listen,    Helen !    Her    leaves    seem 

to  be  talking. 
Yes,    it    sounds    as    if    she    said, 

"Pleasant,  pleasant,  pleasant." 
She  knows  what  a  fine  day  it  is. 
Good-by,  Lady  Birch!     Good-by  ! 


33 


CALLING    ON    ME.    SQUIRREL. 

Mr.     Squirrel    liyes    OTer    in    the 

woods.     Suppose  we  go  and  see 

if  he  is  at  liome. 
No,  I    do    not   see   him.     We   will 
•    sit    down    on    this 

soft     moss     and 

wait.     Perhaps  he 

will      come     back 

soon. 
But  we  must  be  very 

quiet.        We     can  — 

watch  the  grasses  and  the  wild- 
flowers. 
There  he  is :     See  his  bright  eyes. 

See  his  bushy  tail. 


I  think  his  house  is  in  that  tree. 


34 

CALLING    ON   MAMMA. 

Where  shall  we  go  now? 

Let  us  go  and  call  on  Mamma 
and  Baby. 

They  will  be  glad  to  see  us. 

We  will  tell  them  we  called  on 
Mrs.  Robin,  Mrs.  Cow,  Lady 
Birch,  and  Mr.  Squirrel. 

We  will  tell  them  what  a  pleas- 
ant time  we  have  had. 

I  hope  they  will  give  us  some- 
thing to  eat.  I  am  limigry 
after  our  long  walk. 

We  will  stop  and  shake  hands  with 
Eover.     He  is  in  tlie  garden. 

We  will  pat  the  rabbits,  and  give 
them  some  leaves  to  eat. 


35 


SUNNY   DAYS. 

(To  be  memorized.) 

Did  you  ever  go  on  sunny  days 
The  pretty  flowers  to  pull, 
And,  kneeling  in  the  meadow, 
Fill  your  little  apron  full? 


Did  you  ever  see  the  daisies  shine, 
And  hear  the  robins  start, 
Till  you  sometimes  found  it  hard  to  tell 
The  flowers  and  song  apart  ? 


36 

Did  you  ever  see  a  butterfly 
Upon  the  blossoms  sway, 
And  leave  it  free  to  rest  unharmed, 
Or  go  its  fluttering  way? 

And  did  you  ever  feel  the  breeze 
Steal  lightly  to  your  cheek. 
As  if  it  loved  you  very  much 
And  had  a  word  to  speak? 

Well,  if  you  have  known  all  these  things 
So  beautiful  and  wild, 
I'm  sure  the  birds  and  flowers  and  breeze 
Have  known  a  happy  child. 

MAKY    MAPES    DODGE. 


I  feel  at  home  with  everything 

That  has  its  dwelling  in  the  wood ; 

With    flowers    that    laugh    and    birds    that 
sing,  — 
Com])anions  beautiful  and  good; 

Brotliers  and  sisters  everywhere, 
And,  over  all,   Our  Father's  care. 

LUCY    LARCOM. 


37 


JOHN'S   NEW   CLOTHES. 
John  has  some   new  clothes.     His 

mother  bought  them  for  him. 
John  put  on  the  clothes  and  went 

to  show  them  to  his  father. 
His  father  was    reading.     He   put 

down    the    book    and   looked   at 

the  new  clothes. 


38 

He    said,    "  Well,    well,    those    are 

nice    clothes.       Are    there    any 

pockets  in  them  ?  " 
He  began  to  look  for  the  pockets. 
"  Yes,  there  are  nice  hig  pockets." 
He  put  his  hand  in  every  jiocket. 
When  John  began  to  take  off  his 

new  clothes,  he    found  a  penny 

in  every  pocket. 
How  do  you  think  they  got  there  ? 


JOHN^S    TEA   PARTY. 

The  next  morning  John  went  out 
to  spend  the  pennies  he  had 
found  in  his  new  clothes. 

He  bought  some  cakes  and  some 
popcorn  candy. 


39 

John's  sister  Alice  has  a  table  and 

some  dishes. 
She    brought    out    her    table    and 

dishes  and  they  played  tea. 
RoTer    was    running     around    the 

yard.     He    saw  John   and  Alice 

playing  tea,  and  ran  up  to  them. 
He   jumped  up  and  put  his    paws 

on  the  table. 
He  barked  as  if  he  wanted  to  say, 

"Please  give  me  some." 
Then  they  gave  him  some  cake. 


The  dewy  grass  is  growing  green, 
The  face  of  every  flower  is  clean, 
And  children  also  should  be  seen 
As  fair  for  school  in  the  morning. 


GABRIEL    SETOUN. 


40 


EMMA. 

Do  you  know  Emma? 

She    is    a    dear    little    girl.      The 

children  all  love  her. 
Emma    has    been    sick.      She    had 

to  stay  in  bed  a  long  time. 
She  had  to  have  her  hair  cut  off. 
Her    little    friends    bought    lier    a 

present.    It  was  a  beautiful  plant. 


41 


When  Emma  was  much  better,  the 
children  had  a  doll's  party  for 
her.  Each  little  girl  brought  a 
doll  to  spend  an  hour  with  her. 

They  said  the  dolls  would  not  be 
noisy  nor  tire  Emma.  I  wonder 
if  the  little  girls  kept  as  quiet 
as  their  dolls. 


42 


EMMA  AND  THE  HAND-OEGAN  MAN. 
The  hand-organ  man  came  down 
the  street.  He  stopped  and  be- 
gan to  play. 
The  children  heard  him.  They 
ran  out  of  their  yards.  They 
took  hold  of  hands  and  danced. 
Some  of  them  brought 
pennies  for  the  man. 
"  Please  come 
and  play  in 


43 

front  of  Emma's  house/'  they 
said.  "She  is  sick  and  can  not 
come  out.  She  is  sitting  by  the 
window.  Will  you  come  and 
play  for  her  ?  " 

The  organ  man  and  the  children 
went  down  the  street  to  Em- 
ma's   house. 

The  man  played  before  the  door, 
and  the  children  danced. 

Emma  saw  them  from  her  window. 

They  threw  kisses  to  Emma  and 
she  threw  kisses  to  them. 

Emma  threw  fiYC  cents  down  to 
the  organ  man. 

The  music  and  the  dancing  did 
her  much  good. 


44 


A   CITY   WALK   BEFOKE    SCHOOL. 


Good  morning,  Arthur. 

Good  morning,  Ella. 

Let  us  take  a  walk  before  school. 
We  can  not  see  trees  and  grass, 
but  Ave  can  look  in  the  store 
windows. 

Yes,  it  is  fun  to  look  in  the  win- 
dows. We  can  choose  Avhat  we 
should  like. 


46 

And    we     can    make     believe    the 

things  are  ours. 
There  is  a  big  window. 
Oh    how  full   of    pretty  things    it 

is  !     What  will  you  choose  ? 
I  choose  that  horse. 
And    I    choose   that  big  doll  with 

a  blue  dress. 
I  choose  the  train  of  cars. 
And  look  !     What  a  beau- 
tiful doll's  bed.   I  chooge 

that. 
I  choose  that  pretty  little 

clock. 
Oh,  see  what  time  it  is ! 
Yes,  it  is  nearly  school  time.     Let 

us  run,  or  we  shall  be  late. 


46 


A   COUNTRY   WALK    BEFORE    SCHOOL. 


Come,  Arthur,  don't  you  think  it 
is  time  to  start  for  school? 

It  is  early,  but  we  will  start  now. 
We  will  walk  slowly  and  look 
at  all  the  pretty  things. 

Oh,  Arthur,  are  you  not  glad  we 
live  in  the  comitry? 


47 

Yes,  Ella,  the  country  is  much 
nicer  than  the  city. 

See  that  bluebird.  He  is  trying 
to  build  a  nest.  He  has  some- 
thing white  in  his  mouth. 

Hear  the  brook  sing!  What  a 
pretty  soimd  it  makes. 

There  is  a  ground  squirrel.  He 
ran  into  that  tree.  Did  you 
see  him? 

Yes,  and  I  heard  a  catbird  sing. 
It  somids  just  like  a  cat,  doesn't 
it? 

So  it  does.     Isn't  it  a  queer  song  ? 

I  hear  something  else.     Listen! 

Yes,  it  is  the  school  bell.  Let  us 
see  who  will  get  to  school  first! 


48 


.1 
THE    SHIPWRECK.      >/^^''' 

One  day  Arthur 

and     Ella    went 

to    play    in    the    woods    by    the 

brook. 
Arthur    took    his    boat,    and    Ella 

took  her  doll. 
Artliur  made  believe  go  out  in  his 

boat  to  catch  fish. 
Ella  played  house  under  a  big-  tree. 


49 

Arthur  came  to  see  Ella  and  her 
doll.  He  said,  "  Will  you  let 
your  little  girl  go  out  sailing  in 
my  boat  ?  She  is  small  enough 
to  get  into  it." 

"All  right,  she  may  go,"  said  Ella. 

They  put  the  doll  into  the  boat. 
Arthur  pushed  it  out  into  the 
water  and  the  doll  went  sailing. 

But  the  boat  sailed  against  a  large 

stone  and    upset.     The  doll  fell 

into  the  water. 
"  Oh  Arthur,  she  will  get  all  wet ! " 

said  Ella. 
"  It  will  not  hurt  her  to  get  wet. 

I  will  soon  get  her  out   of    the 

water,"  said  Arthur. 


50 

HOW   FOXY   CARRIES   THE   PAPER. 

Do  you  know 
Foxy  ?     He 
is    a   bright 
little  dog. 
Everybody 
likes    Foxy. 
He  can  do  many  cunning  things. 
When    his   master  comes  home  at 
night,  Foxy   is    waitmg    at    the 
gate. 
His    master    gives    him    a    paper. 
Foxy  takes  it  in  his  mouth  and 
carries  it  to  his  mistress. 
She    always   pays  Foxy  for  l)ring- 
ing    tlie    paper.     She  gives  him 
a    nut. 


51 

One  night  his  master  didn't  have 
any  paper  to  give  Foxy. 

Foxy  felt  bad.  He  wanted  to 
earn  his  nut. 

He  went  to  a  chair  where  there 
were  some  old  papers.  He  took 
one  and  carried  it  to  his  mis- 
tress. Then  he  wagged  his  tail 
for  the  nut. 

Don't  you  think  he  was  bright  ? 


HOW   FOXY   BEGS. 

How  do  you  think  Foxy  asks  for 
what  he  wants  ?  He  stands  up 
on  his  hind  legs.  He  can 
stand  up  a  long  time. 

One   evening  they  made   him   ask 


52 

for  candy.  He  stood  up  many 
times,  and  each  time  they  gave 
him  some  candy. 

The  box  was  left  on  the  parlor 
table. 

The  next  morning  Foxy's  mistress 
went  into  the  parlor.  No  one 
had  been  in  there  before,  that 
morning. 

There  she  found  Foxy  all  alone. 
He  was  standing  up  beside  the 
table  where  the  candy  box  was. 

No  one  knew  how  long  he  had 
been  there.  Perhaps  he  thought 
if  he  stood  there  a  long  time 
the  box  would  open  and  some 
candy  would  drop  out. 


53 


HOW   FOXY   GOT   BY. 

Some  dogs  like  to  have  people 
talk  to  them  on  the  street. 

Foxy  did  not  like  this.  He  would 
not  be  friends  with  people  he 
didn't  know. 

When  they  would  call,  "  Here, 
Foxy,"  or  "  How  do  you  do,  sir  ?  " 
he  wouldn't  even  look  at  them. 

He  trotted  along  as  if  he  didn't 
hear  them. 


54 

One  day  a  boy  tried  to  stop  Foxy. 

He     held     out     his     arms     and 

wouldn't  let  Foxy  pass. 
Foxy    ran    from    one    side    of    the 

road  to  the  other.     But  the  boy 

was  always  in  front  of  him. 
At  last  Foxy  ran  straight    at  the 

boy,  barking  hard. 
The  boy  was    frightened.     He  let 

Foxy  pass.     Then  Foxy  trotted 

along  quietly  agam. 


FOXY   AND    THE    PANS. 

One  night  Foxy  was  in  the  shed. 
On  the  table  were  some  milk 
pans.  They  had  been  out  dry- 
ing all  day  in  the  sunshine. 


65 

Foxy  got  up  to  see  if  he  could 
find  any  milk.  The  pans  fell 
OYor.     They  made  a  great  noise. 

Foxy's  master  ran  to  see  who  had 
made  the  noise.  And  where  do 
you  suppose  he  found  Foxy? 
Under  a  chair,  fast  asleep! 

His  master  knew  that  no  dog  could 
stay  asleep  in  such  a  noise. 

He  said,  "Ha,  ha,  old  fellow,  I 
know  you  are  only  making 
belicYe." 

Foxy  came  out.  and  sat  down  in 
front  of  his  master.  He  put 
up  his  paw  to  shake  hands. 
That  was  the  way  he  always 
said,  "I'm  sorry." 


56 


THE    SHADOWS. 

All  up  and  down  in  shadow-town 

The  shadow  children  go ; 
In  every  street  you're  sure  to  meet 

Them  running  to  and  fro. 

They  move  around  without  a  sound, 
Tliey  play  at  hide-and-seek, 

But  no  one  yet  that  I  have  met 
Has  ever  heard  them  speak. 


57 

Beneath  the  tree  you  often  see 

Them  dancing  in  and  out, 
And  in  the  sun  there's  always  one 

To  follow  you  about. 

Go  where  you  will,  he  follows  still, 

Or  sometimes  runs  before, 
And,  home  at  last,   you'll  find  him  fast 

Beside  you  at  the  door. 

A  faithful  friend  is  he  to  lend 

His  presence  everywhere ; 
Blow  out  the  light — to  bed  at  night  — 

Your  shadow-mate  is  there ! 

Then  he  will  call  the  shadows  all 

Into  your  room  to  leap. 
And  such  a  pack  !  they  make  it  black, 

And  fill  your  eyes  with  sleep ! 

FRANK    DEMPSTER    SHERMAN. 


The  world  is  so  full  of  a  number  of  things, 
I'm  sure  we  should  all  be  as  happy  as  kings. 

ROBERT    LOUIS    STEVENSON. 


58 


THE   BIRDS^    RIDE. 

Once  there  was  a  weather  vane. 
It  was  put  on  a  barn  to  tell 
the  farmer  which  way  the  wind 
was  blowing. 

It  looked   like    a  big  yellow  bird. 

When  its  head  was 


^     turned   toward   the 
^     north,    it    showed 


59 

that  the  wind  was  blowing  from 
the  north. 

One  day  some  birds  came  flying 
along.  They  were  on  their  way 
to  spend  the  winter  in  the 
South. 

They  stopped  to  rest  on  the  barn 
roof.  Some  of  them  flew  up 
on  the  big  yellow  bird.  It  was 
slowly  turning  around,  for  the 
wind  was  changing. 

The  little  birds  sat  on  the  big  bird 
and  it  turned  them  around,  too. 

A  little  boy  was  playing  in  the 
yard.  He  saw  them  and  shouted: 
"O  Mamma,  see  the  big  birdie 
giving  the  little  birdies  a  ride ! " 


60 


THE    BOAT. 


Little  waves,  I've  brought  the  boat 

Father  made  for  me ; 
For  I  want  to  see  it  float 

On  the  sunny  sea. 
Take  it  in  your  little  liands ; 
Bear  it  o'er  the  golden  sands. 


61 

Little  waves,  come  up  and  creep 

Round  my  little  boat ; 
Where  the  water's  ankle-deep 

I  shall  see  it  float ; 
And  you'll  sing  your  sweetest  song 
As  it  sails  and  sails  along. 


GABRIEL    SETOUN. 


THE    RACE. 

"  What     a    nice     boat     you    have, 

Allan." 
"  Yes,  Walter,  I  tliihk  it  is  a  nice 

boat.      My    father    made    it    for 

me." 
"  Let    us    go    and     sail    our    boats. 

We  will  go  to  the  Park." 
"  All  right.     There  is  a  fine  pond 

in  the   Park." 


62 

"  We  will  let  our  boats  race,  Allan, 

and  see  which  gets  across  first." 
"  Hurrah  !     So  we  will." 
"  All  ready,  now.     Off  they  go  !  " 
"  There,  mine  is  in  front,  Walter." 
"  No    mine    is.     I  can    tell  by  the 

little  flag." 
"  That's  so ;  yours  is  in  front.     But 

the  wind  will    help  mine  along 

soon.     There,  now  she  has  gone 

past  yours."  ' 
"  Let  us  run  around  the  pond  and 

wait  for  them." 
"  How     queer !       See,    both     have 

touched  the  shore  at  once." 
"  Yes,  neither  boat  has  won.     We 

must  try  it  again  some  time." 


63 


MAKING   BELIEVE. 


Do  vou  like  to  make  believe  ?    I  do. 
Has  your  doll  an  old  dress? 
You  can  make  believe  it  is  a  new 

silk  dress. 
You  can  make  believe  your  doll  is 

going  to  a  party. 
You  can    take    her    to    the   party. 

It  will  be  fun. 
You    can    make    belicYe   having    a 

party  supper. 
You  can  use  leaves  for  dishes. 
If  you  have  a  piece  of  bread  you 

can  call  it  cake. 
It   will    not    be    cake,    but    it   will 

taste  better. 


64 


A   MAKE-BELIEVE   DOLL. 

Nell  had  no  doll.     She  had  broken 

her  doll. 
Her    mother    rolled    up    an    apron 

.  and  tied  a  strhig  around  it. 
Nell  made  believe  it  was  a  doll. 
She   put   a   sash   on   it.     At  night 

she  put  it  to  bed. 
If  Nell  had  not  made  believe  she 

would  not  have  liked  her  doll. 


65 

MUD    PIES 

Bell  and  Nan  were  in  the  gar- 
den making  mud  pies.  "  I  wish 
they  were  real  pies/'  said  Bell. 

"  So  do  I,"  said  Nan.  "  I'm 
hungry.  I  wish  Grandma  would 
make  some  little  pies  for  us." 

"We  must  not  ask  her.  She 
has  too  much  to  do." 

"  Let  us  go  and  get  some  bread. 
Grandma  always  lets  us  have 
bread  if  we  are  hungry." 

So  the  girls  went  into  the 
house. 

They  did  not  have  to  ask 
Grandma  for  bread.  They  knew 
where  it  was  kept. 


66 

When  they  went  back  to  the 
garden  the  mud  pies  were  gone. 
But  there  were  some  real  little 
apple  pies. 

It  is  fun  to  have  make-believe 
pies  turn  into  real  pies. 


CHERRY-TREE    SNOW. 

The  cherry  tree  was  all  in  bloom. 
The  blossoms  were  white  as  snow. 

When  Mabel  saw  the  tree  it 
was  like  one  big  blossom. 

That  night  the  wind  blew  hard. 
In  the  morning  the  ground  under 
the  cherry  tree  was  white.  It 
looked  like  snow,  but  it  was  the 
blossoms. 


67 


Mabel  made  a  sled  out  of  white 

paper,  with  a  cord  to  drag  it  by. 

Then    she    put    her    paper    dolls 


on    the    sled,    and    gave    them    a 

sleigh  ride  over  the  blossom  snow. 

What    fun    she    had,    until    Mr. 

Wind  came  and  blew  them  all  off ! 


68 


MAKE-BELIEVE   FISHING. 


What  do 
you  think  I 
saw  one 
day?  I  saw 
a  little  city 
girl  make 
believe  she 
was  fishing. 

Children 
in  the  city 
have  to  make 
believe  it  is 
country.  They  can  not  roll  and 
run  on  the  grass.  They  can  not 
hear  the  birds  sing.  But  they  can 
play  in  a  make-believe  country. 


69 

This  little  girl  was  fishing. 
There  was  a  hole  under  her  win- 
dow. The  men  had  dug  it  to  lay 
some  pipes  for  water.  They  had 
gone  home. 

She  thought  the  hole  looked 
like  a  pond.  She  tied  her  shoe  to 
a  long  cord  and  let  it  down  in 
the  hole.  She  made  believe  the 
shoe  was  a  fish.  She  pulled  it  up 
and  down,  and  had  great  fun. 


A  little  work,  and  a  little  play, 

And  hours  of  quiet  sleep, 
A  cheerful  heart,  and  a  sunny  face. 
And  lessons  learned,  and  things  in  place,  — 

Ah,  that's  the  way  the  children  grow, 
Don't  you  know? 


THE    SEA. 

Down  by  the  sea!    down  by  the  sea! 
That's  where  the  children  delight  to  be, 
With  pails  and  shovels,  pebbles  and  sand, 
Building  towers  and  castles  grand ; 
Towers  and  castles  to  last  for  a  day. 
Till  the  waves  come  up  and  wasli  them  away. 

Down  by  the  sea!    down  by  the  sea! 
Where  can  one  feel  so  happy  and  free? 
Faces  grow  brown  and  hands  grow  strong, 


71 

And  voices  are  ready  with  shout  and   song. 
The  shore  is  filled  with  a  merry  din 
As  the  big  white  waves  come  rolling  in. 


A.    W.    M. 


BRINGERS   OF   JOT. 

(To  be  memorized.) 

There's  never  a  rose  in  all  the  world 

But  makes  some  green  spray  sweeter; 

There's  never  a  wind  in  all  the  sky 

But  makes  some  bird  wing  fleeter; 

There's  never  a  star  but  brings  to  heaven 

Some  silver  radiance  tender; 

And  never  a  rosy  cloud  but  helps 

To  crown  the  sunset  splendor; 

No  robin  but  may  thrill  some  heart, 

His  dawn  like  gladness  voicing ; 

God  gives  us  all  some  small,   sweet  way 

To  set  the  world  rejoicing. 


72 


SIX   LITTLE   LETTERS. 

1.   From  a  Dog. 

Deak  Little  Master, — 

I  am  only  a  dog,  but  I  love 
you  dearly.  You  are  so  good  to 
me.  You  bring  me  nice  things  to 
eat.  You  keep  my  house  clean 
and  you  give  me  a  bath  often. 

You  let  me  play  witli  you.     You 


73 

let  me  go  into  the  woods  with 
you  and  gather  nuts.  It  is  fun 
to  gather  nuts,  even  if  I  do  not 
like  to  eat  them. 

I  wish    there  was    something    I 
could  do  for  you. 

Your  little  dog, 

Sport. 


He  likes  to  rest  his  head  on  your  hand 
With  a  look  that  says —  ''  You  understand  ;  ^' 
Or  he  loves  to  lead  \yith  bound  and  leap 
Through    forest   paths    where    the   ferns    are 

deep ; 
Always  ready  and  ever  true,  — 
A  friend  to  the  end,  whatever  you  do ; 
Frisk  as  a  grig  and  chirk  as  a  frog. 
That's  the  way  with  the  Boldie  Dog! 


CLINTOX    SCOLLARD. 


74 


SIX   LITTLE   LETTERS. 


2.   From  a  Mouse. 


Dear  Mrs.  Cat, — 

I    know    you    like    to    hunt    for 
mice.     You  like  the  taste  of  a  nice 

young  mouse. 

I  am  very 
much  afraid  of 
you. 

My  six  little 
children  are  so 
much  afraid  of  you  that  they  will 
hardly  peep  out  of  the  hole  that 
is  our  front  door.  I  have  to 
bring*  them  food  to  eat. 

But    they  will    soon    be    so   big 


75 
that  I  can  not  bring  enough  food 
for    them.       Then    they    must    go 
out  and  hunt    for  their  own  food. 

You  have  a  good  home,  and  a 
kind  mistress. 

You  do  not  need  mice  to  eat. 
You  have  all  the  meat  and  bread 
and  milk  you  want. 

Will  you  ask  your  mistress  if 
she  will  tie  a  bell  on  your  neck? 
Then  my  children  and  I  will 
loiow  when  you  are  coming,  and 
we  can  rim  and  hide. 

Please,  Mrs.  Cat,  do  this  for  me, 
and  I  will  not  be  afraid  of  you 
any  more. 

GuAY  Mouse. 


76 


SIX   LITTLE    LETTERS. 

3.   From  a  Doll  in  a  Store  Window. 

Dear  Mary, — 

I  am  a  doll  in  the  store  window. 

You    have    looked    at    me    many 

times.      Other     little     girls     have 

looked  at  me 
too,  but  I  like 
you  best. 

I  want  you 
for  my  mam- 
ma.    I   would 

like    to  live   in  your  house.     You 

look  very  kind. 

It  is  hard  for  a  doll  to  stay  in 

a  store  window.     The  light  hurts 

my    eyes.      If  I    could    lie   dow^i. 


77 

they  would  shut.     But  I  can't  lie 
down  without  somebody  to  help  me. 

If  you  will  ask  your  papa  to 
buy  me  for  you,  I  will  be  very 
good.  I  will  not  make  much 
noise.  And  I  will  try  not  to  eat 
much.  I  will  lie  beside  you  in 
bed  at  night.  I  will  give  you 
many  pleasant  hours. 

Please  ask  your  papa  to  buy  me ! 
I  want  to  be  your  little  girl. 

Pikk-Cheeks. 


The  world  is  such  a  happy  place 
That  children,  whether  big  or  small, 

Should  always  have  a  smiling  face, 
And  never,  never  sulk  at  all. 


G.    S. 


78 


SIX    LITTLE    LETTERS. 

4.    From  a  Canary  Bird. 

Dear  A]sr:N^A, — 

I  am  tired  of  being  your  canary 

bird.      You  do  not  know  how  to 

take  care  of  a  bird.  You  for- 
get to  feed 
me.  You 
forget 
that  I  need 
water  to 
drink.  You 
should  put 
my      bath 

tub  in  my  cage  every  day.     I  love 

to  take  a  bath  ! 

What    would    you    do    if    your 


^  79 

mamma  should  forget  to  give  you 
any  dinner  or  any  bath?  How 
would  you  like  that  ? 

Sometimes  she  gives  you  apples 
and  pieces  of  sugar  to  eat.  Why 
don't  you  give  me  some  ?  I  like 
apples  and  sugar,  too. 

I  sing  sweet  songs  for  you.  I 
chirp  when  you  come  near  my 
cage.  And  I  fly  on  your  hand 
when  I  am  out  of  my  cage. 

Will  you  not  try  to  take  better 
care  of  me?  If  you  don't,  I'll 
have  to  find  another  little  girl  to 
liye  with. 

Your  pet  bird, 

GOLDIE. 


80 


SIX   LITTLE    LETTERS. 

5.   From  a  Horse. 

My  Dear,  Kijstd  Master, — 

I  haye    often    thought    of   writ- 
uig  you  a  letter.     I  want    to    tell 

you  how 
much  I  love 
you  for  be- 
ing so  kind 
to  m  e.  I 
wish  every 
horse  had 
such  a  good 
master. 
Some  mas- 
ters wliip  their  horses,  even  Avlien 
they  are  trying  their  best  to  pull 


81 

the    load.     But    you  always  know 
when  I  am  trying. 

And  some  masters  do  not  give 
their  horses  enough  to  eat  to 
make  them  strong  for  their  work. 
A  horse  can  not  work  well  if  he 
does  not  have  enough  to  eat. 
But  I  always  have  enough.  And 
you  and  my  mistress  often  give 
me  apples  and  pieces  of  sugar. 
Horses  like  these  things. 

In  winter  you  never  forget  to 
cover  me  when  I  have  to  wait 
for  you  in  the  cold.  In  summer 
you  never  tie  me  in  the  hot  sun 
if  you  can  help  it. 

Your  friend,  Dobbi:^'. 


82 


SIX   LITTLE   LETTERS. 


6.   From  a  Squirrel. 

To  THE  Boys  that  live  ii^   the 
Eed  House, — 
I  am  the  squirrel  that   lives    in 
the  big-  tree    just  as   you  go    into 


83 

the    woods.     It    is    not     far    from 
your  house. 

You  know  me,  for  you  have 
been  throwing  stones  at  me,  and 
trying  to  frighten  me. 

I  do  not  hurt  you  in  any  way. 
I  try  to  stay  away  from  your 
yard.  I  try  not  to  take  all  the 
nuts  in  the  autumn.  I  only  take 
enough  to  use  in  the  winter  time. 

You  are  kind  boys,  I  know. 
You  are  good  to  your  dog,  and 
you  never  throw  stones  at  the 
chickens,  or  at  any  birds  you  see. 

Please  do  not  throw  stones  at 
me  any  more.     Let  us  be  friends. 

Bushy-Tail. 


84 


THE   WIND. 

I  saw  you  tos«  the  kites  on  high 
And  blow  the  birds  about  the  sky; 
And  all  around  I  lieard  you  pass, 
Like  ladies^  skirts  across  the  grass  — 
0  wind,  a-blowing  all  day  long, 
0  wind,  that  sings  so  loud  a  song! 

I  saw  the  different  things  you  did, 
But  always  you  yourself  you  hid. 
I  felt  you  push,   I  heard  you  call, 
I  could  not  see  yourself  at  all  — 
0  wind,  a-blowing  all  day  long, 
0   wind,  that  sings  so  loud  a  song! 


85 

0  you  that  are  so  strong  and  cold, 
0  blower,   are  you  young  or  old? 
Are  you  a  beast  of  field  or  tree. 
Or  just  a  stronger  child  than  me? 
0     wind,   a-blowing  all  day  long, 
0  wind,   that  sings  so  loud  a  song ! 

R.    L.    S. 


A   VALENTINE    KITTEN. 

What  a  jjretty  kitten!  Is  she 
yours? 

Yes,  she  is  my  kitten.  Her 
name  is  Yallie. 

What  a  queer  name !  Why  did 
you  call  her  Vallie? 

Because  she  was  a  Yalentine. 
fShe  came  to  me  on  Valentine's 
day. 

Do  you  know  who  sent  her  ? 


86 


Yes,  I  think  it  was  Auntie. 
She  always  sends  me  queer  val- 
entines, not  like  other  people  send 


How  could  she  send  you  a  kit- 
ten  for  a  valentine  ?  She  couldn't 
tie  it  up  in  paper. 

No,  she  tied  ribbons  on  the 
kitten's  neck  and  feet.     Then  she 


87 

came  at  night  and  put  her  down  by 
the  front  door.  Then  she  pulled 
the  bell  and  ran  away  to  hide. 

I  opened  the  door,  for  I  thought 
it  was  another  yalentine.  And 
there  was  the  kitten  with  a  piece 
of  paper  on  her  ribbon  that  said, 
"Your  Yalentine." 

How  glad  you  must  have  been 
to  get  such  a  nice  valentine! 


I  love  little  pussy, 
Her  coat  is  so  warm, 

And  if  I  don't  hurt  her, 
She'll  do  me  no  harm. 


•  88 

THE   ROBINS^   FEATHER   BED. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eobiii  were  work- 
ing very  hard  to  finish  their  house. 
They  had  to  hunt  all  about  to 
find  enough  wool  and  sticks  and 
horsehair  to  use. 

It  was  a  round  house,  and  it 
didn't  have  any  roof.  But  as  it 
was  in  a  large  tree,  the  green 
leaves  made  a  very  good  roof. 

Have  you  guessed  that  the 
house  was  a  nest? 

One  beautiful  day  Mr.  Eobin 
came  flying  home  with  a  soft  red 
feather  in  his  mouth. 

"  What  is  it,  and  wliere  did 
you  get  it?'"  asked  Mrs.  Robin, 


89 

"  I  don't  know  what  it  is,  but 
I  got  it  from  some  queer-looking 
thing  in  the  garden.  It  was  a 
round  black  thing  on  the  ground. 
It  was  not  a  plant,  but  I  don't 
know  what  it  was.  I  had  to  pull 
and  pull  to  get  this  off." 

"How  nice  and  soft  it  is,"  said 
Mrs.  Robin. 

She  took  it  in  her  bill  and 
flew  to  the  nest  with  it.  "  It  will 
make  a  warm,  soft  bed,"  she  said. 

She  put  it  in  the  nest  and 
fastened  it  down  with  a  piece  of 
horse-hair. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robin  were  happy 
with    their    nice    feather    bed    all 


90' 

that  spring.  But  a  little  girl  felt 
very  sorry  she  had  left  her  hat 
out  in  the  garden.  Somebody 
had  taken  the  pretty  red  feather 
from  the  hat. 

She  never  knew  where  it  went. 


THE    STARS. 

What  do  the  stars  do 

Up  in  the  sky, 
Higher  than  the  wind  can  blow, 

Or  the  clouds  can  fly? 

Each  star  in  its  own  glory 

Circles,  circles  still ; 
As  it  was  lit  to  shine  and  set,' 

And  do  its  Maker's  will. 

CHRISTINA    G.    ROSSETTI. 


91 


THE    BIRDS'    EATING-HOUSE. 

What  do  you  think  we  have  in 
our  yard?     A  birds'  eating-liouse. 

Many  people  have  bird  houses 
in  their  yards ;  but  did  you  ever 
hear  of  a  birds'  eating-house  ? 

We  do  not  keep  it  open  in  the 
summer    time.      Oh,    no,    for    then 


92 

there  are  many  ways  for  birds  to 
get  enough  to  eat. 

But  in  the  winter,  when  the 
snow  has  covered  everything,  and 
they  can  get  no  fruit  or  grain  or 
seeds,  then  the  birds  need  their 
eating-house. 

It  is  not  a  house  at  all.  It  is 
just  a  large  bush.  Under  the 
bush,  on  the  ground,  we  throw  all 
the  crumbs  that  we  can  get. 

We  sweep  the  snow  away,  first. 
If  you  throw  crumbs  on  the  snow, 
the  birds  can  not  always  see  them. 

We  throw  seeds  under  the  bush, 
too,  for  birds  like  many  kinds  of 
seeds. 


93 

And  on  the  branches  of  the 
bush  we  sometimes  tie  pieces  of 
nice  white  fat,  from  meat  before 
it  is  cooked. 

The  birds  like  this  fat,  and  it 
is  good  for  them  in  the  cold 
winter. 

I  wish  other  boys  and  girls 
would  have  birds'  eating-houses 
in  their  yards. 


Little  children,  never  give 

Pain '  to  things  that  feel  and  live  : 

Let  the  gentle  robin  come 

For  the  crumbs  you  save  at  home,  — 

As  his  meat  you  throw  along 

He'll  repay  you  with  a  song. 


94 


PILLOW   FAIRIES. 

Little  Ben  was  at  his  grand- 
mother's. He  had  never  been 
away  from  his  mother  before. 
He  was  only  five  years  old. 

He  played  all  day  long.  He 
had  fun  with  tlie  dog  and  the 
cat  and  the  chickens. 

But  when  night  came,  he  cried 
for  his  mother.     He  would  not  go 


95 

to  bed  without  her.     Grandma  did 
not  know  what  to  do  about  it. 

At  last  she  said,  "  If  you  will 
be  a  good  boy  and  go  to  bed, 
perhaps  the  pillow  fairies  will 
come    in    the    night." 

Ben  stopped  crying.  "  What 
are  pillow  fairies?"  he  asked. 

"  They  come  sometimes  when 
little  boys  and  girls  are  good 
about  going  to  bed,"  said  Grandma. 
"In  the  morning  you  may  look 
under  your  pillow.  Then,  if  you 
find  something  good  there,  you 
may  know  that  the  fairies  have 
been  here.  But  they  will  not 
come  until  you  are  asleep." 
I 


96 

So  Ben  went  to  bed  without 
crying  any  more.  He  had  many 
pleasant  dreams,  and  did  not  wake 
up  once  in  the  night. 

In  the  morning  he  looked  under 
his  pillow. 

And  there  he  found  a  little 
cake,  an  apple,  and  a  new  whistle ! 

Who  do  you  suppose  the  pillow 
fairies  were  ? 


FOUR   LITTLE   BIRDS. 

Four  little  birds  all  flew  fi'oin  their  nest,  — 
Flew  north,  flew  south,  flew  east  and  west; 
They  thought  tliey  would  like  a  wider  view, 
So  they  spread  their  wings  and  away  they 
flew. 


97 


MR.    SQUIRREL'S   VISIT. 

Mr.  Squirrel  lived  in  the  woods. 
He  was  afraid  of  people.  When 
he  heard  anyone  walking  through 
the  woods,  he  ran  away  to  the  tree 
where  he  lived,  and  hid  himself. 

But  one  day  Mr.  Squirrel  grew 
quite  brave,  and  went  to  make  a 
visit.  Not  far  away,  on  the  shore 
of    a    pretty    lake,    was    a    little 


98 

house.     Some    people    were    liying 
there  for  the  summer. 

Mr.  Squirrel  liked  these  people. 
They  never    tried  to  catch  him. 

On  this  day  Mr.  Squirrel's  bright 
eyes  saw  them  all  go  out  to  sail 
on  the  lake.  So  he  started  over 
to  see  what  kind  of  a  house  the 
nice  people  lived  in. 

He  scampered  across  the  grass, 
then  up  the  steps,  and  in  at  the 
open  door.  There  was  a  large  cool 
room,  and  in  it  was  a  table. 

On  the  table  was  a  dish. 
"What  is  in  that  dish?"  thought 
Mr.  Squirrel.     "I'll    jump    up   and 


see." 


99 

He  got  up  on  a  chair,  then  on 
the  table,  and  peeped  hito  the 
dish.     It  was  full  of  nutSo 

Oh,  how  giad  Mr.  Squirrel  was ! 
It  was  not  the  season  for  nuts,  so 
he  couldn't  find  any  out  doors. 

He  broke  the  shells  and  ate  a 
great  many.  Then  he  filled  his 
cheeks  and  ran  home. 

When  the  people  came  back, 
they  wondered  who  had  been 
there,    eating    their    nuts. 


100 


THE   HORSE   THAT   HAD    A   PARTY. 

Did  you  ever  hear  of  a  horse 
that  had  a  party  ? 

Our  horse  Brownie  had  a  party 
when  he  was  ten  years  old. 

We  all  love  Brownie,  and  we 
thought  he  might  have  a  birth- 
day party. 

We  always  have  birthday  par- 
ties. 

It  was  in  the  autinnn,  and   the 


101      CALi:**Oi*\N 

trees  were  full  of  red  and  yellow 
leaves.  We  made  a  string  of  tliein 
to  go  around  Brownie's  neck,  and 
another  to  hang  over  his  back. 

Then  papa  led  Brownie  all 
around  the  yard,  and  we  boys 
marched  along  beside  him.  We 
wore  our  soldier  clothes. 

Harold  had  his  drum  and  the 
rest  of  us  had  horns. 

Mamma  and  Grandma  watched 
us  as  we  marched.  After  we  had 
gone  around  the  yard  we  stopped 
in  front  of  the  house. 

We  sat  down  on  the  steps  to 
rest.  We  had  cake  and  apples 
to  eat. 


102 

Brownie  had  some  apples,  too, 
and  we  pulled  grass  for  him  to 
eat. 

He  took  it  from  our  hands. 

We  gave  him  a  box  with  pieces 
of  sugar  in  it,  for  a  birthday 
present.  We  called  it  a  box  of 
candy.  Brownie  likes  sugar.  He 
seems  to  like  a  party,  too. 


HOW   THE   FLOWERS   GROW. 

This  is  how  the  flowers  grow : 
I  have  watched  them  and  I  know. 

First,  above  the  ground  is  seen 
A  tiny  bhide  of  purest  green, 
Reaching  up  and  peeping  forth 
East  and  West,  and  South  and  North. 


103 

Then  it  shoots  up  day  by  day, 
Circling  in  a  curious  way 
Round  a  blossom,  which  it  keeps 
Warm  and  cosy  while  it  sleeps. 

Then  the  sunbeams  find  their  way 
To  the  sleeping  bud  and  say, 
**We  are  children  of  the  sun 
Sent  to  wake  thee,  little  one/' 

And  the  leaflet  opening  wide 
Shows  the  tiny  bud  inside. 
Peeping  with  half-opened  eye 
On  the  bright  and  sunny  sky. 

Breezes  from  the  West  and  South 
Lay  their  kisses  on  its  mouth ; 
Till  the  petals  all  are  grown. 
And  the  bud's  a  flower  full-grown. 

This  is  how  the  flowers  grow : 
I  have  watched  them  and  I  know. 

GABRIEL    SETOUX. 


104 


TWO    SCOLDINGS. 

Molly  scolds  Pussy. 

Mrs.  Pussy,  I'  must  tell  you 
how  bad  your  kittens  are.  Muff 
tried  to  wash  my  doll's  face,  and 
she  licked  all  the  paint  off.  Fluff* 
got  into  my  work-basket.  Oh, 
how  she  did  stir  things  up  in 
that  basket!  Puff  jumped  up  on 
the  table  and  frightened  my  bird. 

Poor  little  bird  !  He  flapped  his 
wings  against  the  sides  of  his  cage 
and  tried  to  get  out.  He  was 
afraid  Puff'  would  hurt  liini. 

You  sliould  make  your  kittens 
try  to  be  good,  Mrs.  Pussy.  You 
should  scold  them  well. 


105 


Pussy  scolds  Molly. 

I  will  scold  them,  Molly,  but 
first  I'll  scold  you.  You  are  no 
better  than  my  kittens  are.  Your 
mother  does  not  make  you  try  to 
be  good. 

Why  was  your  doll  left  where 
Muff  could  find  her?  You  should 
have  put  her  away. 

You    left    your    work-basket    on 


106 


the  chair  where  Fluff  takes  her 
nap.  Why  dichi't  you  keep  it  in 
your  room? 

You  should  never  leave  your 
bird's  cage  on  the  table.  Don't 
you  laiow  that  cats  like  to 
frighten  birds  ? 

If  you  will  try  to  do  better,  I 
will  make  Muff,  Fluff,  and  Puff 
try  to  do  better. 


0  brook  and  breeze  and  blossom, 

And  robin  on  the  tree, 
You  make  a  joy  of  duty, 

A  pride  of  industry ; 
Teach  me  to  work  as  blithely, 

With  a  willing  hand  and  heart : 
The  woi-ld  is  full  of  labor. 

And  I  must  do  my  part. 


Selected. 


107 
A   SONG   OF   WORK. 

The  river,  bearing  boats  to  sea, 
The  kindly  sheltering  wayside  tree, 
The  flowers  that  pnsh  up  to  the  light. 
The  dew  that  falls  throughout  the  night  — 
Each  has  its  special  work  to  do ; 
And  so,   0  little  child,  have  you. 

The  bird  that  sings  a  song  of  ])raise, 
The  bee  that   toils  through  summer  days. 
The  busy  insects  in  the  grass. 
The  fairy  butterflies  that  ])ass  — 
Each  lives  a  life  all  bright  and  true ; 
And  so,   0  little  child,  may  you. 

A  little  sunshine  by  the  way 

Makes  bright  the  dullest,  darkest  day; 

And  so  a  loving,  happy  face 

Makes  sunshine  in  a  gloomy  place. 

There's  need  of  workers  brave  and  true; 

There's  need,   0  little  child,  of  you  ! 

ANNIE    WILLIS    McCULLOUGH. 


108 


THE   WIND'S   WORK. 

Why  do  you  hurry  along  so 
fast,  Wind? 

Because  I  must  be  at  work, 
and  I  have  a  long  way  to  go. 

Where  are  you  going  to  work, 
Wind  ? 

This  morning  I  must  go  to  the 
sea.  Some  big  boats  are  waiting 
until  I  come  and  blow  on  their 
sails. 

The  boats  must  stay  where  they 
are  until  I  push  their  sails;  then 
they  can  move  along.  The  people 
on  the  boats  want  to  get  to  shore. 
I  will  go  and  help  them. 

After  that  I  will  play  with  the 


109 


c  h  i  1  - 

dr  en. 

They 

like  to 

play    with    me.      I 

blow    the     girls' 

hair  about,  and  I  blow 

the  boys'   hats  off,  but 

they  think  it  is  fun. 

I  help  the  boys  fly 
their  kites,  too.  They 
could  not  fly  kites  with- 
out me. 

Then  I  turn  the   arms 
of    the    windmills    around. 
The    windmills     can    not    do 
their   work  without  me.     If  I 


110 

did  not  blow,  they  could  not 
IJiimp  up  the  water  for  the  cows 
and  horses  to  drink. 

When  evening  conies,  I  rock 
the  birds  to  sleep  in  their  nests. 

How  very  busy  you  are.  Wind ! 

Yes,  but  don't  you  think  that 
everyone  should  be  busy?     I  do. 


THE    GEASS'S   WORK. 

Will  you  let  me  lie  doA\Ti  in 
you.  Grass  ?     I'm  very  tired. 

Yes,  I  am  glad  to  have  children 
lie  down  and  let  me  rest  them. 
I  like  to  feel  of  their  faces  and 
hands  and  feet  with  my  little 
green  fingers. 


Ill 


Do  you  have  to  work.  Grass? 

Yes,  indeed.  I  do  more  than 
any  other  plant  to  make  the  world 
beautiful.  Did  you  ever  think  of 
that? 

It  is  my  work  to  keep  every 
bit  of  ground  covered  with  my 
soft  velvet.  I  grow  where  noth- 
ing else  will  grow.     I  cover  ugly 


112 

places  with  green,  and   then  they 
do  not  seem  so  ugly. 

I  keep  the  ground  clean.  It 
could  not  be  clean  if  I  did  not 
grow  over  the  dirt.  Whenever  a 
place  is  left  with  dirt  to  cover  it, 
I  soon  spread  my  green  velvet 
there. 

When  I  have  grown  very  high, 
they  cut  me  down,  and  I  dry  in 
the  sunshine,  and  become  hay. 

So  you  see,  I  am  very  busy. 
I  must  grow  fast  and  tall,  so  the 
horses  will  have  good  sweet  hay 
to  eat.  I  must  go  everywliere 
and  make  the  ground  beautiful. 
And     T     must    keep    a    soft    bed 


113 

always  ready  for  children    to    roll 
on  and  lie  down  in. 

Thank  you,  Grass.  I  shall  like 
you  better,  now  you  have  told  me 
all  that  you  do. 


JACK   FROST^S   WORK. 

I  know  you  have  come.  Jack 
Frost !  I  can  tell  because  you've 
begun  to  paint  the  auturan  leaves. 
I  saw  a  few  red  leaves  on  the 
maple  tree  this  morning. 

You  must  work  very  fast,  Jack 
Frost.  We  want  the  woods  to 
look  pretty  in  their  bright  colors. 
There  are  so  many  leaves  on  the 
trees  and  bushes  that  you'll   have 


114 

enough  to  do.  You  will  have  to 
work  day  and  night. 

Yes,  little  boy,  I  have  come  to 
do  my  autumn  and  winter  work. 

First,  I  must  paint  the  leaves. 
I  will  try  to  make  them  bright 
red  and  gold,  so  the  woods  will 
look  beautiful.  Then  I  must  cover 
the  brooks  over  with  ice,  so  they 
can  sleep  all  winter. 

You  will  not  see  me,  but  you 
will  feel  me,  for  I'll  make  your 
face  and  hands  and   feet    so    cold. 

Some  winter  night,  when  you 
are  asleep,  I'll  come  softly  into 
your  room  and  make  beautiful 
frost-pictures  on  the  windows. 


115 


THE    SNOW'S   WORK. 

How  softly  you  come  down, 
Snow !  You  do  not  make  a  noise 
like  the  rain,  and  yet  you  are 
falling  very  fast. 

My  flakes  are  so  fine  and  soft 
that  they  can  not  make  a  noise. 
They  are  frilling  fast  because  we 
must  get  all  the  ground  covered 
to-day. 


116 

It  will  be  very  cold  soon,  and 
I  want  to  get  all  the  flower-roots 
covered,  so  they  will  be  kept 
warm.  I  do  not  want  them  to 
freeze. 

I  must  fill  up  the  brooks,  too. 
There  has  been  no  rain  for  a  long 
time,  and  they  would  be  dry  if  I 
did  not  fill  them  with  snow. 
When  it  melts,  it  will  make  the 
water  they  need  to  keep  them 
flowing. 

Have  you  much  more  work  to 
do.  Snow? 

Yes,  I  have  ;  but  I  do  not  call 
it  work.  I  must  fall  fast  and 
cover  the    ground    thickly,  so   the 


117 

boys    and    girls    can   have   a   good 
time.     I  like  to  see  them  have  fun 


with  me.  I  like  to  see  them 
throw  me  about,  and  build  snow 
men  and  snow  houses. 

Best  of  all,  I  like  to  see  them 
get  out  their  sleds  and  slide  down 
hill.     What  sport  they  have ! 


118 


COASTING   SONG. 


DOWN. 


Over  the  snow  and  ice  we  go, 
Down,  down,  down ! 

Hip  hurrah,  for  the  coasting  hill, 
Down,  down,  down ! 
Isn^t  the  sled  both  strong 
and  fleet? 
a         Isn't    the    wintry   air 
"  most  sweet? 

Isn't  the  coasting 
a  joy  com- 
plete? 
D  o  w  n, 
down, 


X^  ..1 


down ! 


7    "  ^'^-v 


119 


COASTING   SONG. 


UP. 


Now  we  must  climb  the  long,  long  hill, 
Up,  up,  up ! 
Climb  the  long  and  slippery  hill. 
Up,  up,  up ! 
Sleds  are  heavy  and  feet 
are  slow. 
Slipping  and  sliding 
over  the  snow ; 
But       climbing 
puts  you  all 
in  a  glow. 
So  up, 

up ! 


'"  -■'  *'''-'■  Jf*s?  7,  ■ 


120 


A   HEAVY   LOAD    OF   HAY. 

It  is  great  fun  to  ride  on  a 
load  of  hay.  The  hay  smells 
sweet,  and  you  can  slide  down 
into  it  until  you  are  almost  out 
of  sight. 

Bess  and  Bert  were  in  the  hav 
field.  They  saw  Jim  coming  for 
a  load  of  hay.  Jim  never  would 
let  them  ride  on  the  hay. 


121 

After  the  load  was  ready,  Jim 
went  to  the  spring  for  a  drink. 

Bess  and  Bert  climbed  up  on 
the  wagon  and  hid  in  the  hay. 
They  pulled  some  of  the  hay  over 
them  so  Jim  could  not  see  them. 

He  drove  his  load  of  hay  to  a 
gardener  to  sell  it. 

"  This  is  heavier  than  your  last 
load,"  said  the  gardener  while  the 
wagon  was  standing  on  the  hay- 
scales.  "  Have  you  put  stones  in 
your  wagon  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,"  said  Jim.  "  There 
must  be  more  hay  on  the  wagon." 

The  gardener's  wife  was  looking 
out  of  her  window.     "  Ha,  ha,  ha," 


122 

she  said.  "I  should  like  to  buy 
that  load." 

Just  then  Bess  sat  up  on  the 
load,  and  the  men  could  see  her 
big  hat.  "I  want  my  mamma," 
she  said. 

"  I'll  buy  the  load,"  said  the 
gardener's  wife,  laughing. 

"  Don't  buy  us,"  said  Bert.  "  We 
want  to  go  home." 

"  Come  in  and  have  some  cake 
and  milk  first,"  said  the  gardener, 
as  he  lifted  them  down,  and  took 
them  into  the   house. 

And  Jim  said,  "  Well,  well, 
those  children !  What  will  they 
do  next?" 


123 


THE  HOUSE  WITH 

THE   GOLDEN 

WINDOWS. 

Carl  lived  on  the 
side  of  a  hill.  Over 
across  the  valley  on  another  hill, 
he  could  see  another  house.  This 
house  looked  like  his  house,  only 
it  had  golden  windows. 

Each  morning,  as  soon  as  the 
Sim  rose,  Carl  was  up  and  out, 
helping  his  father  with  his  work; 
for  they  were  poor. 


124 

As  he  milked  the  cow  and  fed 
the  chickens,  he  would  look  over 
at  the  house  across  the  valley. 

"  Oh,  how  I  wish  our  house  had 
golden  windows,"  he  would  say  to 
himself.  "  It  is  a  poor  little  house, 
but  if  it  had  golden  windows  it 
would  look  very  fine." 

One  morning  when  the  golden 
windows  seemed  to  shine  brighter 
than  usual,  Carl  asked  his  mother 
to  give  him  a  lunch,  for  he 
wanted  to  take  a  long  walk. 

She  gave  him  some  bread  and 
some  apples,  and  he  went  away. 
He  was  going  to  see  the  house 
with  the  golden  windows. 


125 

It  was  a  long  walk,  mucli 
longer  than  he  thought  it  would 
be.  Now  and  then  he  stopped  to 
rest.  He  would  sing  a  song  as 
he  sat  resting. 

After  he  had  eaten  his  lunch, 
he  lay  down  under  a  tree  to  take 
a  nap.  It  was  such  a  long  nap 
that  the  afternoon  was  half  gone 
when  he  awoke.  So  he  walked 
on  fast  toward  the  house  with 
the  golden  windows. 

But  alas !  when  it  came  in 
sight,  the  windows  were  only 
glass,  just  like  those  in  his  own 
home.  Carl  turned  sadly  away  and 
looked  across  the  valley  toward  his 


126 

home.  And  there  —  yes,  there 
was  a  little  house  with  golden 
windows.  What  house  could  it 
be  ?  He  had  never  seen  such  a 
house  there  before. 

He  began  to  walk  quickly 
toward  his  home,  and  as  he  did 
not  stop  to  rest  or  take  a  nap, 
he  was  soon  there. 

Then  as  he  walked  up  the  hill 
and  saw  the  late  sunshine  on  the 
windows,  he  knew  that  his  own 
house,  too,  was  a  house  with 
golden  windows. 

And  always  after  that  Carl 
loved  his  home  better  than  ever 
before. 


127 


THE    LAND    OF    STORY   BOOKS. 

At  evening  when  the  lamp  is  lit, 
Around  the  fire  my  parents  sit ; 
They  sit  at  home  and  talk  and  sing, 
And  do  not  play  at  anything. 

Now,   with  my  little  gun,  I  crawl 
All  in  the  dark  along  the  wall. 
And  follow  round  the  forest  track 
Away  behind  the  sofa  back. 

There,  in  the  night,  where  none  can  spy. 
All  in  my  hunter's  camp  I  lie. 
And  play  at  books  that  I  have  read 
Till  it  is  time  to  go  to  bed. 

These  are  the  hills,  these  are    the  woods. 
These  are  my  starry  solitudes ; 
And  there  the  river  by  whose  brink 
The  roaring  lions  come  to  drink. 


128 

I  see  the  others  far  away 
As  if  in  firelit  camp  they  lay, 
And  I,  like  to  an  Indian  scout, 
Around  their  party  prowled  about. 

So,  when  my  nurse  comes  in  for  me, 
Home  I  return  across  the  sea. 
And  go  to  bed  with  backward  looks 
At  my  dear  Land  of  Story  Books. 

ROBERT    LOUIS    STEVENSON. 


^B  35149 


LH  tS2.- 


5 4 las 4 


>  ■cL^-c.c-*- 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


